Press Release

Congressman Johnson: ObamaCare is not ready for businesses, American families or individuals

U.S. Congressman Sam Johnson (R-TX) released the following statement as the House of Representatives passed H.R. 2668, “The Fairness for American Families Act,” and H.R. 2667, “The Authority for Mandate Delay Act.”

“If ObamaCare is not ready for businesses, it’s not ready for American families or individuals either,” said Congressman Johnson as he voted in support of two bills to legally delay ObamaCare’s employer and individual mandate. “As businesses get off the hook, individuals and families deserve the same relief but doing it responsibly and lawfully. Not only is the administration’s disregard for the letter of law outrageous, the law continues to fail the American people and businesses. Taking two hits at this job-killing, unaffordable and unworkable law is the right thing to do, but I’m hardly done fighting for the care Americans deserve. Rest assured that my ongoing effort to repeal the law and make way for real patient-centered reforms will not cease. ”

On June 7, President Obama claimed ObamaCare is ‘working the way it’s supposed to,’ and that everything was on schedule. However, the rhetoric and actions coming from this administration don’t match up. Since the law was passed, without a single Republican vote, numerous actions have been taken to repeal, delay, or postpone certain portions.

The CLASS Act: repealed

1099 business reporting requirement: repealed

Small Business Exchanges: delayed

Mandate on Employers: delayed

The Data Hub: behind schedule

Income verification: postponed

Employer insurance verification: delayed

The latest and arguably most worrisome action was taken on July 2, when the administration unilaterally decided to delay ObamaCare’s employer mandate for an entire year because of the burden it places on businesses. In fact, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce recently released a small business survey that reinforces this daunting reality. The survey found 71 percent of small businesses say the health care law makes it harder to hire, and that only 30 percent are prepared for the requirements of the law. No matter how many times the administration delays or postpones certain parts of ObamaCare, it is clear that a government-knows-best healthcare system is unworkable.

Additionally, this terrible law targets high-quality care in Texas as we have the largest collection of physician-owned hospitals. With over two dozen facilities, the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) area has more physician-owned hospitals than any other region in the nation. ObamaCare bans further construction or growth of physician-owned hospitals, “I think that’s just wrong,” said Congressman Johnson. “That’s why, I recently introduced, H.R. 2027, the ‘Expanding Patients’ Access to Quality Care Act.’ This bill allows folks to choose the doctor they want, the hospital they want, and the care that they want - from the medical experts whom they know and trust. It’s a real breakthrough for freedom and free-enterprise.”